Transmission gear unit mounting



Nov. 6, 1956 R. M. ULRICH TRANSMISSION GEAR UNIT MOUNTING Original Filed May 17, 1951 grader moved down the road which tended to place undue stress upon the bearings of the transmission unit. In accordance with the present invention these effects were greatly minimized by the construction shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 it will be noted that the bracket 17 attached to the frame ahead of the cab 14 carries two U-shaped depending members 27 and 28 held in position by bolts and nuts 29 and 31. The transmission unit 18 has a housing which is provided with cylindrical bearing members 32 and 33. The one U-shaped member 27 carries a cooperating bearing member 34 for the housing portion 32. It is pivotally supported between the two U-shaped legs of the member 27 by suitable cap screws 35. In a similar manner the other hearing portion 33 of the housing is engaged by a bearing 36, which is pivotally supported by cap screws 37 passing through the two legs of the U-shaped support 28.

Mounted on the housing 13 is a stop member 38 which extends between the legs of the U-shaped support 28 thereby to limit the amount of rotation of the casing of the transmission unit 18 with respect to the supporting structure.

From the foregoing it will be noted that by supporting the U-shaped members 27 and 28 from the bracket 17 by single bolts 29 and 31, the alignment of the transmission unit 18 with respect to the axial line of the shaft 16 is facilitated. The pivotal support of the bearing members 34 and 36 further facilitates correct alignment of the transmission unit 18 with respect to the axial center of the shaft 16. The bearing supports 34 and 33 permit the housing unit to rotate through a certain angle thereby to accommodate the variations in the angle of the shaft 19 depending upon the degree of elevation of the upper end of the conveyor 15. Thus means have been provided for mounting a transmission gear unit interconnecting two shafts at right angles to each other, which will permit rotation of the housing of the transmission gear unit to a predetermined amount. This arrangement facilitates installation and minimizes wear.

Referring to Figures 4 and there is shown the upper gear transmission unit 25, which connects the shafts 20 and 30, the latter shaft being connected to the drum which drives the conveyor belt. The shaft 20 is connected to the universal joint 24 of Figure 1. The shaft 30 is engaged by a bearing or pillow block 39 supported on the underside of the bracket 26 by a plurality of bolts 41. The bolts 41 pass through elongated openings 42 in the bracket 26. In Figure 5 it will be noted that the bolts 41 are at one extremity of the respective openings 42, which generally is the initial position prior to the time that the conveyor belt begins to stretch. Each of the bolts 41 above the bracket 26 is provided with a spacing sleeve 43, which is engaged by a plate 44 held in position by the nuts 45. From this it will be noted that the transmission unit 25 is primarily supported by the pillow block bearing 39 engaging the shaft 30. The housing of the transmission unit 25 is permitted a certain degree of angular rotation which is limited by a bracket 46 having two prongs 47 located between the bracket 26 and the plate 44. Thus an arrangement is provided which permits adjustment of the position of the shaft 30 to change the position of the belt driving drum connected thereto. In addition, the freedom of rotation of the housing 25 through a predetermined angle minimizes the wear on the bearings of the housing and facilitates proper alignment of the unit with respect to the two shafts interconnected thereby.

While for the purpose of illustrating and describing the present invention certain specific embodiments have been shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such variations in the components employed and in their arrangement are contemplated as may be commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the accompanying claims.

It further is to be understood that while each of the transmission housings and mountings is of different construction and performs some different functions, that a common function is performed by both of them.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of two power transmitting-shafts arranged at right angles to each other at all times, one of said shafts having its axis stationary, the other shaft having its axis movable through an angle in an axial plane normal to the axis of said first shaft, a bevel gear transmission unit interconnecting said shafts, said unit having a housing movable about the axis of one of said shafts, a support for said unit comprising a horizontal plate having an aperture adjacent each end, a depending U-shaped member secured to said plate at each end by a bolt passing through one of said apertures, said U-shaped member supporting a bearing for the stationary axis shaft, each bearing being pivotally supported between the sides of its U-shaped member transverse to the axis of the bearing.

2. The combination of two power transmitting shafts arranged at right angles to each other, one of said shafts having its axis stationary, the other shaft having its axis movable through an angle in its axial plane normal to the axis of said first shaft, a gear transmission unit interconnecting said shafts, said unit having a housing provided with bearing members on opposite sides thereof for one of said shafts, a support for said unit comprising a plate having an aperture adjacent each end, a pair of depending inverted U-shaped members each pivotally secured to said plate at one end thereof by a bolt passing through one of said apertures, means connecting the ends of each U-shaped member to one of said bearing members, and a stop secured to said housing and extending between the sides of one of said U-shaped members to limit the rotation of said housing and the angular movement of the other shaft.

3. The combination of a gear transmission unit interconnecting two power transmitting shafts arranged at right angles, said unit having a housing provided with two bearings at opposite sides for permitting said housing to pivot about the axis of one of said shafts, a support for said unit comprising a plate arranged parallel to said axis of said one shaft, said plate having apertures adjacent each end, a pair of inverted U-shaped members each secured by a bolt passing through one of said apertures and the center of the transverse portion of said U- shaped member, means connecting the ends of each U- shaped member to one of said two bearings, and a stop secured to said housing and extending between the sides of one of said U-shaped members to permit limited movement of said housing about said axis of said one shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,801,781 Parsons Apr. 21, 1931 2,050,497 McCollum Aug. 11, 1936 2,296,518 Greer et al. Sept. 22, 1942 

